Useful Idiots

From the Korea Times I read the following about what I term "Useful Idiots."

Arrest Warrants Sought for 2 Foreign Protestors on Jeju

Police requested arrest warrants for two foreigners who demonstrated against the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island. It is the first time that warrants have been sought for foreign protestors against the controversial project.

According to Seogwipo Police Station Wednesday, warrants were sought for Angie Zelter from Britain and Benjamin Monnet from France, on charges of illegally entering the naval base site and damaging property in the process.

Zelter entered the Gureombi Seashore, where the naval base construction is underway, through the seawall from Gangjeong port last Monday, police said. Zelter severed the barbed wire fence that was installed around the base and illegally entered the site.

Zelter is a British peace and environment activist who has been arrested over 100 times around the world for carrying out anti-nuclear weapons campaigns. She is visiting Jeju to attend an international peace conference organized by Global Network.

Monnet, a French peace activist, is also charged for illegally entering the naval base last Monday by rowing a kayak onto the Gureombi Seashore and crossing over the barbed wire fence and climbing on an excavator.

Monnet, who came to Korea to attend a film festival to be held on Jeju in May, had already been indicted last November for assaulting a construction worker who was installing the barbed wire fence.

The police also requested an arrest warrant for a Korean who climbed on the excavator with Monnet on charges of obstruction of business but released the other 13 who were apprehended along with them.

Over 20 foreign activists are reportedly participating in the protest, according to the immigration office. The Jeju police were unable to determine the exact number of protesters. END OF STORY

*Sigh.*

Good. I hope they throw the book at these "useful idiots." If anything, this should serve as a warning to those on the island with E-2 visas who want to join the protest. Don't bet on the cops giving you a pass just because you are a foreigner. It seems they have finally had enough with the shenanigans of these "professional" protestors.

Isn't kind of interesting that the French "peace" protestor has already been indicted for assault on a construction worker. How peaceful.

I guess, if you look at the British professional protestor (over 100 arrests around the world), getting arrested is comparable to earning merit badges. I wonder if they sit around comparing arrest records at their meetings. Maybe they go door to door selling "peace" cookies to fund their next protest trip. Maybe they publish something akin to a "Lonely Guide for Jails." I don't know, but it seems that Jeju is just another stop on their 2012 World Tour.

Finally, if you are thinking of going to the protest and acting stupid, ask yourself if the Jeju Navy Base project is worth getting your butt arrested, fined and deported.

New 7 Wonders: The Finger Pointing Has Officially Started

I decided to interrupt my series on my thoughts about the Jeju Navy Base.

I was watching JIBS TV News and saw that, as I predicted, the finger pointing about the New 7 Wonders (N7W) has officially started.

In short, the Jeju Government is blaming KT for not telling them that the phone bill for voting would be a certain amount per call/vote.

In response. KT is saying "Oh yes we did.

Jeju Govenment' response "Nuh uh. No you didn't."

KT is saying, "But we did."

The Jeju Government responded: "But what about this "extra" charge for the special number?"

KT: "We told you that we had to do it."

Jeju Government: "Nuh uh, no you didn't."

And so the finger pointing goes.

I tend to believe both sides on this. The N7W fever was out of control here on Jeju. I believe the government heard only what it wanted to hear and that KT took advantage of the N7W insanity to make a few bucks.

So Jeju owes a huge phone bill. The amount of which rivals the gross national product of some small countries. All for a worthless "designation."

If you listen closely, you might be able to hear the laughter coming from the N7W headquarters in Europe. They're laughing all the way to the bank.

Jeju Navy Base: Useful Idiots

In this second post about the actors in the Jeju Navy Base Follies, I would like to share my thoughts about "Useful Idiots."

From Wikipedia I pulled this explanation of a "Useful Idiot."

In political jargon, useful idiot is a pejorative term used to describe people perceived as propagandists for a cause whose goals they do not understand, who are used cynically by the leaders of the cause.......

The use of the term in political discourse has since been extended to other propagandists, especially those who are seen to unwittingly support a malignant cause which they naively believe to be a force for good.

I use the term to describe the foreigners, who may have good intentions, but are woefully uninformed about the history, politics and complexity of the Jeju Navy Base issue. A few weeks on the island does not make one an automatic go-to-guy for all things Jeju Navy Base.

It seems to me that most foreigners who are joining the protests have little or no independent knowledge of what is going on. Rather they seem to just regurgitate what their Korean handlers tell them, or what they have read, while adding their own spin. Sometimes what they write, and say, is so wrong that it's funny.

I wonder how many of them know that the politicians they are told agree with them and will fight the Navy base are the same ones that championed the idea only a few short years ago.

I wonder if they know these same politicians are now back-peddling and softening their words since they have been called out on their hypocrisy.

I wonder if they know about the "money trail" involving locals who wanted the squeeze every Won out of the government for building the base.

I wonder if they know that the "peace" organizations didn't give a hoot-n-heck about the issue until Lee Myung Bak, a conservative and ideological opponent, became President of Korea.

I wonder if they know how many environmental surveys, by independent organizations have been done on the area.

I wonder if they know how long this plan has been discussed, and how much the government solicited input from the locals before approving the idea.

I wonder...... if they've seen the ball since the kick-off.

I wonder if they know that most of the major media, often more than willing to disparage the current government, are criticizing the protestors for their hypocrisy.

I wonder if they know that the Republic of Korea is a "republic" with a representative form of government. As such, the ROK military takes its orders from a democratically elected civilian government. In its history, many Koreans suffered greatly to create this form of government and throw off the shackles of a military dictatorship.

I wonder if they know that the ROK Navy didn't have the final decision making authority on the base. The civilian, democratically elected government, did.

I wonder if they know that to "blame" the ROK Navy for the base is just plain stupid.

I don't think they do.

I took issue with some of them, and their lack of knowledge and unwillingness to answer basic questions, in a previous post. You can read it HERE.

It seems to me, and I may be mistaken, that the foreigners who are participating in the Jeju Navy protests are spoon-fed talking points to regurgitate whenever discussing the issue. The uncanny simularity in what they say, and how they say it, leads to me to believe that there may be a need for some independent research on their part.

In my opinion, Korea is overly concerned with how it is viewed in the world. This is evidenced almost weekly in the local papers. Whenever the news media in another country says something good about Korea, it is reported in the media here. Likewise, whenever there is something negative reported, the sometimes overreaction by the netizens borders on the ridiculous. It's just how it is.


I don't think this is lost on the anti-Navy base organizers. They want and need foreign demonstrators and foreign news coverage. They want to be able to say "See! Foreigners agree with us! In other words, they need "useful idiots."


When Robert Redford offered his superficial opinion on the issue, you could almost hear the ejaculatory outpouring of happiness by the anti-Navy base group. It was picked up by the papers in the country and dutifully reported. However, if you actually read what he said, it appears he was regurgitating what he had been told almost verbatim. When was the last time Robert Redford was on Jeju and researched the issue? Yep, that's what I thought. Maybe the next time they can get Paris Hilton to stop by and say "Protestors are hot." That'll do it. If she's wearing a hanbok, so much the better.


As I watched the news reports of "peaceful" protestors tearing through fences, swimming around trying to "invade" the site from the sea, trespassing, manhandling the cops (who showed admirable restraint, in my opinion), climbing on police vehicles, blocking traffic, shouting, screaming and cursing, I was keen to see if there were any non-Korean faces engaged in similar activity. Fortunately, I didn't see any foreigners intentionally violating the laws of their host country. I hope they don't.


I think the anti-base organizers know that a video of a foreigner manhandling a young Korean police officer wouldn't go over too well. There could be a backlash and it could actually end up hurting the movement.

Well. I could go on and on about this, but I think I've said enough. I sincerely hope that any foreigners who decide to join the protest research the issue, fully and objectively, before allowing themselves to become useful idiots.

My next post, when I get around to it, will have to do with another issue that gets under my skin. That issue has to do with Catholics and the Jeju Navy Base.

Jeju Navy Base: Hypocrites, Useful Idiots and Catholics

I have been watching the latest episode of the Jeju Navy Base Follies. It is becoming entertaining to say the least. Not so much for the base itself, but for the actors in this variety show from the Twilight Zone.

I just wanted to comment on some of the performers. Since it could rather lengthy, I am going to break up my thoughts into several posts. Those being the "Hypocrites, the Useful Idiots and, of all things, Catholics.

The Hypocrites:

You know, it has to be a cold day in Hell when the Korea Times, the JoongAng Ilbo and LOJ all agree on something. I mean, there must be a blizzard in the deepest corners of the Devil's playground.

We all agree that the exact same politicians that argued for the base, pushed it through the process, and championed it being placed on Jeju, are now the loudest voices of opposition. Why? They're not the party in power right now, so they must oppose it. After all, an election is coming up. They can't be caught actually agreeing with the party in power - who is carrying out the plans that they themselves developed and promoted when they were in power.

And this is not just limited to the national government. There are politicians right here on Jeju that lobbied - yes I said lobbied - for the base to be built some years ago. Now? Well, wait a minute.....

The protestors, that are calm enough to even speak rationally when interviewed, seem to have taken a page from the Obama playbook. That is, if you say something ridiculous (and untrue) long enough, people will believe it. Listening to them, it seems that the mean ole' national government, run by that tyrant Lee Myung Bak, forced the base on the peace loving people of Jeju. The people had no voice. It was a surprise! Holy crap. Where have they been?

The approval process for the base was discussed ad nauseum, numerous public meetings were held to get the people's input and even a special referendum was held to recall the governor of Jeju when some didn't agree with his decision for the go ahead - after receiving input from the locals. The recall referendum failed. Why? Lack of interest by the local population - lack of interest.

The whole approval process took years to complete. There were requests, bordering on begging, for public input. It was discussed and discussed and discussed. But now it is a surprise and was "forced" on Jeju. Yeah, right.

There is another issue that some protestors also forgot, or don't want, to talk about. That is the money.

The national - and Jeju - governments agreed to pay big bucks for the land and to provide some very nice incentives for the locals in the area to help them with any negative impact. So what were the original protests from the peace loving locals? Was it about "peace" and the "environment?" Nope. They wanted more money and more incentives. It had nothing to do with "Jeju Island of World Peace" or opposing those war-mongering Americans or any of the other talking points they have been briefed on by their handlers from Seoul. It was all about money. The locals wanted more and more and more. The governments finally said "enough." That didn't sit well with the now potentially wealthier locals.

So, I suspect that many of the local protestors may be in it for the money. If they can disrupt the construction they can, in effect, blackmail the government into paying them more money. It's the old deep pockets idea. The government has deep pockets so get all the money you can from them.

There is something else about the location that I was reminded about the other day. At the beginning of the process there had to be a decision as to where the base would be located. Several areas on the island lobbied the Jeju government to be chosen. Yep, several areas on the island wanted to be selected. The current location was the one that won out after all the factors were considered. So much for the "surprise" and "being forced."

Another issue I have been watching is the protest puppeteers from Seoul that seem to be orchestrating many of the activities. I have a question for them. If it is all about peace (in their convoluted idea of what "peace" is), where the heck were you when this issue was first being debated years ago? It has NEVER been a secret. At least be honest enough to admit that it is not about peace, but politics. I have to really wonder if there would be leftist "mainlander" participation if President Roh were still in office. I seriously doubt it.

I find it funny that the issue of U.S. making port calls was never an issue until the leftist professional protestors from Seoul showed up. For the issue to gain traction with woefully uninformed like-minded persons in Korea, they need a foreign boogey-man. The U.S. has always been convenient. If you think I'm overreaching here about the issue being political, ask them how many large protests have they organized against China or North Korea. From what I have seen they are either liars or hypocrites. They fit in well with the others.

So, with the above being said, I fully understand the Navy and national government being sometimes dismissive of some grandstanding national or local politician. I understand their frustration with the locals. I understand the government's exasperation with people who mistakenly believe that democracy and representative government should be nothing more than governing by opinion poll.

More later.

Shocking Undercover News Report!

I was watching TV late Saturday night and came across a news expose.' The report was on the show "News Hunters."

The expose' was the result of a highly sensitive undercover investigation. The investigation report was complete with reporters going in undercover hidden camera videos, secretly recorded conversations, the occasional talking head and ended with a startling conclusion! All of it was late at night and it was rated "19." Kids, don't watch this report!

I was glued to the T.V. screen. OK, so I admit it. When channel surfing I always linger a little longer on channels that have the number "19" in the top corner. Hey, I'm a guy, so sue me. Back on topic......

What was the special undercover news report about? Was it about political corruption? Nope. Was it about inept police? Nope. Was it about shady business dealings in Korea? Nope. Was it about sex crazed, drug taking foreign English teachers? Surprisingly, nope. Although you could be forgiven for guessing that one. It wasn't any of these run-of-the-mill subjects.

The dangerous and shocking undercover investigation had to do with, of all things, the existence of ............ gay bars in Korea!

Yep, a special undercover investigation into gay bars in Korea. As I was watching I just prayed their weren't any foreigners in the bar. That's all we would need, to be blamed in the media for the existence of homosexuality in Korea. Thankfully, there were only Korean guys in the bar.

I can just imagine them adding a "gay" test for getting an E-2 visa. I guess they would show guys a naked picture of a guy and measure his ......uh........ never mind. Of course, ladies would be shown a picture of.......... You get the idea.

I was entertained by the undercover reporter. He was fully prepared to explore the deeper side of the gay lifestyle in Korea (insert sarcasm here). A couple of his well-thought out questions were "Can I find a boyfriend here?'' and my personal favorite "In what kind of style do you like your boyfriend to dress?" Anything about discrimination, living a double life, dealing with the stresses of being "in the closet?" Not that I could tell. It seemed more akin to a report on some strange tribe discovered in the farthest reaches of the Amazon rain forest.

Interspersed through the report were shots of a gay couple with blurred faces locking lips. I did find the shots of guys holding hands, stroking each others hair, rubbing legs, etc. somewhat confusing. How is what they showed any different from what happens at a typical high school in Korea?

Anyways, I thought the end of the undercover news report was hilarious. The reporter, when giving his talk-over at the end of the report, stated "There are a lot more gays in Korea than we think!" It wasn't what he said, but how he said it. I was almost expecting him to follow that comment with "Hold on to your peckers, boys. There's preeverts in them thar hills!

Watching how Korea is coming to terms with life in the 21st Century is quite interesting and, at times, entertaining.

A New Crop of Teachers on Jeju. A Hopeful Sign.

Every March I usually see a few bright and shining (and lost) faces walking around that I haven't seen before. I assume that these people are part of the new "crop" of foreigners on the island coming to work at hogwans or for EPIK or the TaLK program.

I've noticed a change in the crop the last few years that has made me a bit hopeful about the future.

Specifically, I've seen more African-Americans/Canadians/Brits/etc. In my opinion, the increase in the number of non-white Native Speaker English Teachers (NSETs) is a step in the right direction.

Korean children, of all ages, need to be exposed to foreigners who come in all shapes, sizes, genders and, especially, races.

It is only through daily repeated contact with people from different races that children will see that people are people and not caricatures created by the Korean entertainment industry and media.

A couple of blogs, like "Roboseyo" and others, have been writing about the most recent controversy involving "Blackface" and other incidents involving racist stereotypes in the Korean media. You can read the ins-and-outs about the issue on the other blogs.

In my opinion, one big step towards dragging Korea into the 21st Century with regards to race is to foster person-to-person daily interaction between Korean students (and teachers) and NSETs of different races.

The change in how non-Korean races are perceived, and an end to overt discrimination will not come from the government. Remember, even several years after "Hines Ward," there is still no law in Korea banning discrimination on the basis of race.

Sadly, change will not come from a majority of Korean teachers.

It probably won't come from a majority of parents.

It will not come from the news media.

It will not come from entertainment companies who promise to give their products (entertainers) "sensitivity" training.

It will come from the kids. Kids that have been exposed to educated, caring, professional NSET's who are not white (and not Gyopos).

So, to the non-white NSETs on the island I say, please remember that you are teaching the kids more than just English. In many ways, the lessons they take away from your class may even be more valuable.

So, like this morning, when I am driving around and I see a non-white NSET (in this morning's case a young lady of African decent) heading to work carrying all kinds of EFL materials, it gives me hope.

Is Jeju Going to Become the "Hub of Tackiness?"

I was watching the local news the other evening and caught the tail-end of a report about new/more plans for Jeju's future.

This time they were talking about extending the Tapdong area farther out into the ocean. "We need a bigger Tapdong!!!" Spare me, Hondo. It has been done in the area before. Tapdong used to be a lot smaller. But, they filled it in so they could have more hotels and asphalt. Now they are planning to do it again. Yay!

They want to make more boat landings, another ugly concrete sea wall and, get this, another friggin' park. This is exactly the same plan they had before they farked-up... uhhh.... I mean developed the area near Iho Beach. Go to Iho Beach and look at the area. Yeah, an (imaginary) mega park attracting thousands of people to the (imaginary) hotels and (imaginary) businesses that are there. That was the justification for dumping billions of taxpayer Won and tons of dirt and concrete into the ocean.

What is in there now? Concrete sea walls and some silly looking Trojan horses. No hotels, no businesses, no park - just dirt, asphalt and another sea wall. Oh, there is a relatively small place to park leisure craft - and we all know the overwhelming number of leisure craft that justified filling in yet another area of the Jeju coast with concrete and dirt, don't we? Oh, and don't forget the special feelings one gets while looking at the oily film that covers the water around boat moorings. Can anything be more romantic?

I used to take walks along the ocean road between Iho and Dodu. It was quiet, natural and had some stunning scenery at sunset. I don't go there anymore. The area is just another testament to illogical, ill conceived and unjustified development plans that seem to be the norm on Jeju these days.

So, it seems the drive to make Jeju the Hub of Tackiness will continue. This time it will be "Operation Tapdong." Jesus tap-dancing Christ, when will those who are in charge realize that concrete and asphalt do not automatically mean "developed."

The things that make Jeju so special are being destroyed and perverted in an effort to make Jeju .... special.

Rant over.

NSET Cuts in Seoul (and Jeju?)

The well-written and informative blog "Gusts of Popular Feeling" had an excellent analysis of the latest news report concerning the cuts in Native Speaker English Teachers (NSET) in Seoul. I invite you to read the article and his excellent analysis.

I just want to comment on one part of the translated news article. My comments are in red.

"This and other measures are meant to alleviate dissatisfaction with the reduction of native speakers in schools: short and long term training for English teachers; student-led speaking, listening, reading and writing classes; expanding the proportion of speaking and writing assessment; by implementing demonstration classes in Middle school grade 1 and High school grade 1 where students are divided into English classes of less than 20 students, and through this reducing the number of students per class; and revitializing (sic) after school programs by using native speakers."

Tearing this paragraph apart:

This and other measures are meant to alleviate dissatisfaction with the reduction of native speakers in schools:

So, there is current or anticipated dissatisfaction. From whom and why?

short and long term training for English teachers,

Well planned and executed professional development is always a good thing. It is doomed to failure if it is not appropriate to the teaching environment that those attending the training will face upon their return to the classroom. Saying something is professional development training doesn't make it so. Just ask those who attended the myriad of POE orientations and so-called "training" over the years. Or, better yet, how about asking Korean co-teachers how much focused and applicable training they received to be a co-teacher with a NSET.

student-led speaking, listening, reading and writing classes;

Huh!!???

expanding the proportion of speaking and writing assessment

Oh goody. Just what Korean high school and Middle School students need, more assessments.

by implementing demonstration classes in Middle school grade 1 and High school grade 1 where students are divided into English classes of less than 20 students, and through this reducing the number of students per class;

This stuff about "demonstration classes" mystifies me. Maybe it is another way of saying an assessment. Since I have been in Korea, I have heard NSET's screaming from the proverbial rooftops about the need for smaller conversation/speaking classes in Middle Schools and High Schools. So instead of making smaller classes where NSET's could be more effective, you first get rid of the NSET's and then make smaller classes. *Sigh*

and revitializing (sic) after school programs by using native speakers."

Are they talking about bringing hogwan teachers to the schools in the afternoon? Maybe they are looking to TaLK teachers, or hiring cheaper "F" series teachers to work part-time with no benefits package. I think the Jeju rep, when interviewed about the subject by the Jeju Weekly, spoke of afterschool (and regular) classes with TaLK teachers.

That's it.

I sincerely hope that Jeju, if/when it implements cuts, doesn't take its cue from SMOE on how to alleviate the problems that will come.

Just a reminder. According to the Jeju POE, as quoted in the Jeju Weekly, there are 7 fewer NSET's in public schools on Jeju now (February) than there were this time last year. In addition, if the Jeju rep was correct, TaLK teachers will now be in some regular classes and expanded afterschool programs. But, rest easy, you have been reassured that Jeju won't follow Seoul's example.

By the way, I have this bridge located in Brooklyn, New York that I'd like to sell real cheap.

Hogwan From Hell, The Jeju English Village and Lessons Learned.

I've been out of town for the past week so I haven't been keeping up with what's been going on. When I got back, a friend informed me that there was yet another post on the local Yahoo Group about the Jeju English Village (JEV).

I looked at the information and was somewhat taken aback. I was taken aback by two things. The first is that a new blog, created by a former teacher, basically copies and pastes from this blog. OK. No problem. A little attribution to where the information came from would have been nice, but no big deal.

The next thing that made me smile was that a newspaper article the was linked to in the blog and on the local Yahoo group site basically proved my original point about derogatory information about JEV being readily available prior to the most recent fiasco. Here is the newspaper article in its entirety (emphasis mine):

Is this the hogwan from hell?

2010-04-05 18:32


"It was simply awful," a former teacher at the Jeju International English village told The Korea Herald. "I was being screamed at and threatened by the director."

In tears, the teacher called the police. A couple of uniformed officers showed up at the village the next day and in a conspiratorial manner ordered the teacher, "Keep this visit a secret, we have been investigating this school for some time."

They told her to "sit tight" and continue to behave as a model teacher for the final two weeks of her contract. Showing great presence of mind, the teacher asked for the policeman`s details in the event she needed to contact him again.

When it came time for her to leave, the village director, identified as Lee Chan-won, refused to pay her final salary. She contacted the police officer, and together with an interpreter, they went to the local Labor Board office. In the car, the officer quizzed her about the school and the activities of her boss.

The Labor Department was sympathetic but said unfortunately there was nothing they could do to force the director to pay her, at least not before her flight left later in the day.

A few weeks later The Korea Herald called the police officer to ask how the investigation was going. Rather surprisingly he categorically denied the school was under any sort of investigation. He told us he was at the school to check on the passports and other documents of the teachers, a routine visit to see if they were legal and qualified, he said.

Obviously this turn of events warranted further investigation. The Korea Herald contacted the Immigration Department to ask if it was normal for police officers to make these "routine" visits to hagwons and English villages.

The Immigration Department`s investigative branch told us the police have absolutely no authority to conduct document checks of this nature, routine or otherwise. They emphatically told The Korea Herald that documentation checks are the exclusive domain of the immigration and education authorities.

When confronted with the statements from immigration, Jeju police cheerfully told us that Seoul had got it wrong, and such checks were commonplace.

Someone obviously has it wrong. Director Lee later told The Korea Herald that at no time or for any reason had Jeju police ever had cause to visit the English village.

The operators of the Jeju village also run the Oxford English language hagwon in Seoul. The Korea Herald has received a litany of complaints against Lee, his wife Jasmine, and other senior staff.

The complaints and accusations range from tax fraud associated with the "After School" program, forging teachers` signatures on fake contracts, failing to provide promised or adequate accommodation, non-payment of salary, forcing teachers to work in locations other than the one on their visa, illegal contracting out, and threatening behavior. The list is long and very disturbing. Teachers have told us about multiple visits to immigration, the Labor Department, and the police.

One particular teacher and his partner told us the immigration officer they spoke to offered the information that the school and its directors were under investigation. The Korea Herald contacted this particular immigration officer in early October and asked him about the complaints and the alleged investigation.

"Nothing has been proved," he said, essentially confirming that some sort of investigation was taking place. The officer said he`d invited Lee to present himself for an interview, but he hadn`t shown up.

"I called him again and told him to come to the office. He said he is in the country but very busy and would come in later. We are now still waiting," he said. Another appointment had been made for the Friday following our initial phone call.

In a later conversation with The Korea Herald the immigration officer admitted that he had actually gone to Lee`s registered place of business. "We went to see the man in person but could not meet him. He had moved or something." Or something?

The immigration investigative branch told The Korea Herald that failing to inform the authorities of a change of registered business address would leave the hagwon directors - and possibly even the teachers - liable to prosecution. That was two months ago.

The Korea Herald contacted immigration again a couple of weeks ago and asked how the "investigation" was going and if the officer had managed to catch up with the elusive hagwon director, Lee.

According to the officer, the director still hadn`t shown up. In a telephone interview, Lee categorically denied he had ever been contacted by immigration in Seoul and invited for an interview. He also asserted that his registered place of business had not changed in the past three years.

A former recruiter for the Oxford School/Jeju International, meanwhile, was delighted to speak to The Korea Herald.

In January 2006 they recruited several teachers to work at the Jeju village. Soon after their arrival, the teachers were suddenly hauled before immigration and accused of working in a location other than stated on their visa documents. The recruitment agency was also called in for questioning.

"We arranged for the teachers and did the paper work," the recruiter told us, "but then Lee illegally changed the documents to show the teachers were supposed to be working in Seoul."

Anxious to restore their reputation, the recruiters filed a complaint against Lee, who in turn accused them of being complicit in the illegal activity.

"We eventually learned that the immigration office had come to the conclusion that Lee was lying and we had nothing to do with the changes," the recruiter told us.

The agency has had no contact with Lee or his business for almost a year, and advises all reputable recruiters to do the same thing, "Mr. Lee is really a bad and rude man," they told The Korea Herald, "he has a really bad way of doing business."

It is well established that Lee and the highly questionable way he conducts his English teaching enterprises have been brought to the attention of the authorities on several occasions. The lack of initiative shown by the police, labor, and immigration departments to conduct a thorough and coordinated investigation is nothing short of disgraceful.

The Korea Herald made repeated attempts to contact the hagwon/village for comment, and only at the last minute managed to speak to Lee through his interpreter. Lee told us he had never forged or altered contracts, denied he had been called in for questioning by Seoul immigration, and dismissed claims by Jeju police that they routinely visited the English village.

(chrisgelken@heraldm.com)

Did you notice anything? Besides the story, which is interesting to say the least, look at the DATE of the article. It was published on April 5, 2010. Almost 2 years ago. This is available on the 'net. It gets better. When you click on the story from 2010 look closely at the web address. Specifically, look at the string of numbers at the end. In this case, the numbers are 20070103000050. The first four numbers tell you the year. What do you see? Yep, 2007. The article referenced by the teacher was actually first published back in 2007.

The first written complaint I found on JEV was written/posted on September 11, 2006. It can be found on "Korean Black List at blacklist.tokyojon.com.

So, we have a record of this outfit starting in 2006 and 2007 and continuing through 2009, 2010, and into 2012.

So, when I hear the recent horror story about JEV, I have precious little sympathy. Does that make me an ass? Maybe. But I'm a firm believer that many people put more research into what their friends are doing on Facebook, than on an employer in a foreign country. At some point a person has to take responsibility for their own fark-up. I'm sorry. Maybe I'm not being PC. But at some point a person should be told "Hey, you share some responsibility for the mess you are in."

Now, in the above article, there is the name of the person involved, his organization in Seoul and the Jeju English Village. Heck, even the recruiter thinks the guy is "a really bad and rude man." What the hell else would you need to give JEV a pass?

There is something else that is nagging at me. Maybe I'm wrong to mention this but here goes. On the teacher's blog there are some videos taken by "Luke" who is the point man for the latest fiasco involving JEV. Numerous times he mentions in the video, as he has previously, that he needs to be paid because his wife is pregnant. First of all, let me offer my congratulations and best wishes.

But I have to wonder if his repeated references to his pregnant wife is an effort to elicit sympathy from people who seem to have little in the way of morals and/or ethics (which I really hope). Or, is it true that he needs the money for the doctors/hospitals to pay for the birth and/or aftercare. If it is the latter, then I am troubled by what that may really mean.

Besides an excellent example of the need to conduct research on a potential employer, this situation could be an excellent example of the need to have good insurance in Korea. The National Health Plan covers very little beyond the basic level of medical care. This is especially true if you have a family. Without additional coverage you are playing financial Russian Roulette with an automatic weapon.

If you have a family, and especially if you have a Korean speaking spouse, there is no reason not to make getting good insurance coverage a priority.

So, from this latest fiasco, JEV and Luke have provided some important lessons that are hopefully learned. First, research, research, research on a potential employer. Two, the officials in law enforcement, immigration and labor have far too little power to regulate the hogwan industry. Three, if you have a family in Korea you need good medical insurance.

Freedom of Speech in Korea. Another View

Recently, I wrote a post about the need to be careful when blogging in Korea. I won't rehash it here. I received a comment from the blogger "Roboseyo" that said in part:

then again, when you look at the example the Korean government provides, hounding and arresting bloggers who criticize the president... it's less of a surprise that Korean netizens feel it's OK to use similar thug tactics against blogs with which they disagree.

I agree with Roboseyo. I am disturbed by the Korean government's witch hunt of certain Korean bloggers.

I was reminded that, apparently, this is not just a Korean thing. From the United States I read today:

CINCINNATI (AP) — A man who was threatened with jail time for posting comments about his estranged wife on his personal Facebook page unless he posted daily apologies for a month says the court ruling violates his freedom of speech.

Mark Byron, who is making the apology to avoid 60 days in jail, said Friday night that he believes it's too late for him to appeal the domestic relations court ruling as planned.

So what did this evil man, who is going through a divorce proceeding say that warrants jail? This is what he wrote:

"If you are an evil, vindictive woman who wants to ruin your husband's life and take your son's father away from him completely — all you need to do is say you're scared of your husband or domestic partner and they'll take him away."

That's it. No threats of violence, nothing. The judge, in his infinite wisdom (insert sarcasm here), reasoned:

The ruling says several of Mark Byron's comments were "clearly intended to be mentally abusive, harassing and annoying" to his wife and "generate a negative and venomous response toward her from his Facebook friends."

So Byron, who may be an ass or may not be an ass, has to post an apology to his wife every morning before 9:00am for 90 days, or be sent to jail for 60 days. Free speech advocates and attorneys are astounded by the ruling. It, hopefully, would lose on appeal. But Byron, apparently, doesn't have the time and/or money to appeal so is being forced to apologize on Facebook for exercising his freedom of speech.

So, when we wave our proverbial finger at the Korean government saying tsk, tsk, tsk, we must remember that freedom of speech is quickly becoming situational at best.

From time to time we will also read of a Korean judge making a ruling that defies logic. Well, from the United States again, I read something that made me go WTF? If you are fearful about the assault on the First Amendment, as I am, in the United States, I recommend you read the following. Apparently, some judge in Pennsylvania thinks it's OK for a Muslim to attack an atheist for expressing his views.

Pennsylvania Judge Rules It Is OK For Muslim To Attack For Insulting Muhammad

and this

Penn Judge: Muslims Allowed To Attack People For Insulting Mohammad

The last line of this story is a classic:

It should be noted that another atheist, dressed as a Zombie Pope, was marching beside the Zombie Muhammad. No outraged Catholics attacked him.

I firmly believe that the death of freedoms in the United States will not come from the White House or Congress. Rather, it will come from the courtroom.

Last, as I thought about what I wrote about Korean "netizens" (who I referred to as the internet Taliban), it occurred to me that in the U.S. we have the same thing. I refer to them as the "Tolerance Nazi's." I have seen far too many stories of people in the U.S. (including children and students) being threatened, abused, harassed, being suspended from school, kicked out of groups, losing their jobs and being threatened with court action for, peacefully and respectfully, voicing an unpopular opinion. All of this is being done in the name of "tolerance."

So, for me, before I automatically wave my proverbial finger at Korean society or the judiciary, I will first consider what is going on in the "Land of the Free."

And just a reminder to my friends in Canada, the U.K., Australia, etc. Before you start waving a proverbial finger at Korea and the U.S. I strongly recommend you take a close look at what is happening in your home countries also. The erosion of freedom of speech is not just an American thing.

I know the above isn't about Jeju. However, I just had to post something about it.